Middle school field trip: "The Hunger Games" movie

<p>Having just seen the movie, curious what topics they will have for two more books.</p>

<p>FWIW, D went to the midnight show and reported that most of the audience seemed to be twelve year olds. She’s a big fan of the books, and her reaction to the movie was “Eh.” She took umbrage at what she saw as some significant plot changes, and was lukewarm about Jennifer Lawrence’s performance. But at this point the movie has been so overhyped, I can imagine that it will disappoint many.</p>

<p>I have a business trip to Africa next month - I will probably take the family copy of the first book with me to pass the time.</p>

<p>nj2011mom, you won’t pass much time that way. It’s a very quick read.</p>

<p>I didn’t read the books, even though it was a book club book for me. Just not what I like. Went to the movie last night with friends and I didn’t like it. Kids killing kids just wasn’t what I wanted to see. I would never take a child or pre-teen to that movie. The jerky camera bothered me, but it never bothered me in Friday Night Lights.</p>

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<p>Having read all of the books, I thought there were some places in the movie that hinted of some of the things to come in the next couple of books.</p>

<p>My D who is recovering from wisdom teeth extraction wants me to go with her to see this before she goes back to school. I * really* don’t want to, but it won’t be the first movie I have taken her to that I didn’t want to see. (Episode l:The Phantom Menace, et.al)</p>

<p>But I may try to talk her into something else.</p>

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<p>…hehe… thanks for the idea. :slight_smile: I had mine out eight hours ago and have been begging to go to the zoo all day, boyfriend wont let me. :frowning: May have to check movie listings, there’s a theater across the street. I downloaded the hunger games to my kindle this morning, this thread finally piqued my interest in the books, but I have cabin fever like you couldn’t imagine…</p>

<p>ema, glad to hear you came through it! But I have to say… I think your boyfriend’s right. Take it easy the rest of the day. :)</p>

<p>Didn’t you just get them pulled yesterday? D got hers pulled Wednesday & today is the first day she hasn’t been on both vicodin & prescription ibuprofen.</p>

<p>( I think she has watched two or three seasons of 30 Rock when she was awake)</p>

<p>I had them out this morning. It was ugly for a bit while they were still bleeding, but now that it stopped I feel pretty much normal. I could chew and everything but I am trying to take it easy to protect the stitches. No pain at all anymore. The surgeon said tomorrow and the next day will be worse, though, so we’ll see. I’m being good and hanging out around the house but I am bored stiff to the point of psychological distress.</p>

<p>Tomorrow and the next day may be worse – or they may not. See how you feel. It wouldn’t be a good time for strenuous physical activity, but if you’re not in much pain, I see no reason why going to a movie would be harmful. Just remember: no popcorn!</p>

<p>There’s a LOT more to explore in movies and the next two books! I love how the books expand to bigger themes-- societal oppression, the imbalance between rich and poor and how that affects cultural and personal freedom, etc, etc. I like when YA books start with small, relatable themes (ie, friendship, love) and move the reader onto bigger ideas. I loved the movie and love that these books may have gotten more non-readers to read.</p>

<p>That said, I’m finding the idea of a school-sanctioned field trip to this movie more than a a bit squicky. The gore isn’t horrible but it’s still there, and the implications and themes are intense.</p>

<p>Saw the Hunger Games yesterday. Enjoyed it, but found the jerky camera-work annoying as well. I did think the costumes were well-done.</p>

<p>DH and I saw it yesterday (during tha perfect stotrm of reach school website acting up and CC beign down). The pacing was slow, but when I analyse the film, they didn’t leave anything out. One thing I will say is that the amazing young actor, Jennifer Lawence, was able to act her way through the necessary silence. Now I need to rent Winters Bone to see her really act.</p>

<p>She is amazing in “Winter’s Bone”. And the reason why THG is far and above other movies of its kind. It blows anything from the horrible “Twilight” series out of the water.</p>

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<p>It’s interesting that you say that. Everyone I know has said that the pacing was too fast and things happened too quickly. I would also say that they left one major thing out of the end that’s definitely part of the set up for the rest of the two books and I was a little disappointed about that. It will be interesting to see how they they deal with that angle of it.</p>

<p>I saw it last night with D. She had read the books & she thought it was better than the first Harry Potter movie. ( for leaving things out)
I didn’t love it, but it was better than I thought it would be & I admit the violence was minimized, but much wasn’t explained so if you hadn’t read the books there was not enough explanation.</p>

<p>The jerky camera work was very annoying compounded by the fact that we had to sit in the first five rows of the theatre. Also very loud. I had to put my headphones in.</p>

<p>Wouldn’t have it as a middle school field trip though-but it may be interesting for a class who was reading books like 1984 & The handmaids tale.</p>

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<p>I have read sci-fi and “young adult” works with my two boys, now 18 and 22, as they grew up. The Hunger Games was a decent read for this fifty-year old sci-fi fan. The Hunger Games will remind sci-fi fans of Ender’s Game and Shade’s Children for it’s gaming aspect.</p>

<p>The Hunger Games is notable for having a very strong and moral female lead.</p>

<p>After the release of the movie, many of our adult friends are now discovering HG on their kids’ bookshelves and reading it. (My 18 year old gave the movie a C for achievement and an A- for effort.)</p>

<p>I just saw it with a friend, and I honestly can’t see this as material for 6th grade middle - schoolers. Maybe 8th. Maybe. I’d rather they just read the book, though. I found it very intense and would not recommend it for a field trip. If a parent wants to take their own kid, that’s up to them, but I can’t imagine pushing this kind of dark intensity and yes, violence, on kids in general.</p>